By: Wessex Fan - 28th July 2008 at 11:02
An interesting question, firstly I have to admit to taking far more images than I will ever use, I just love taking pictures!
I think that when you first start to take aviation pictures, you blast away at everything and joy of joys once in a while you will get an image that really pleases you, that one image will encourage you to keep at it and take better pictures.
When I go to a show, I already have a good idea of the type of picture I want, sometimes that will mean using a high speed frame advance, sometimes I will quickly compose and take one image, it all depends on the location and the occasion.
Yes I sometimes get the process badly wrong and end up with an image that is clearly out of focus, or is really badly framed but these are generally a small percentage. The greater percentage fail because they are just not the image I am looking for, I do not delete these, they may be useful sometime.
Near the top of the heap are the good solid images that may be used to illustrate some article or other, while at the top are those that really please me.
The problem for those of us going to air shows is that we are taking pictures of a three dimensional fast moving object with a pilot in it, what the pilot does in his machine will greatly affect the image we take, the simple fact is that his reactions will be unknown.
Rather than dwell on the percentage of good and bad pictures, I think we are better off just looking at the results of our labours and asking the question, am I happy with what I have taken? If the answer to the question is No, then look your images, identify the problems with your technique and do better next time.
WF
By: chowells - 17th July 2008 at 16:43
To take Flying Legends as an example, I took 1619 shots on Sunday.
About 20 of these will be complete write offs, completely out of focus, people standing in the way, very little of the plane etc.
I’ve ended up with 531 keepers that vary from OK to those that I’m very pleased with – you can see those here: http://gallery.chrishowells.co.uk/2008/20080713%20Flying%20Legends%20Duxford/JPEGs/
I then go through those and look at the best – I got 20 odd that I’m very pleased with, you can see those here: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=82537
So basically I end up with about 25% worth keeping.
I take so many shots because I put the camera into multiple shot mode and jam my finger on the button, which allows me to take a variety of quite similar photos and choose the best.
It took me around 12 hours to go through all the photos and do all the post processing (discarding, cropping, sorting out the lightness etc).
By: SEMAE - 17th July 2008 at 15:03
I am one of these people take shots by rapid fire.
I could take up to ten shots of a jet in a single pass. Maybe I do not have to worry to much about the composition changing too much if the aircraft decides to do a top side or a role and they are usually a bit further away. I have no idea how many of my photos are printable but most of the time I do seem to get the shots within two to three frames of what I want. I would print about two per cent at most. I shoot in RAW. The first thing I do is check the sharpness.
Piston engine aircraft can be much more awkward if you judge the situation incorrectly. If the aircraft is in level flight, it is all within the frame. If it suddenly turns top side quite close then the composition of the image changes very quickly with the wings from tip to tip being longer than the fuselage and too big for the frame. At Duxford FL the Spitfires were top siding just to the right of me, edge on in front, and top side just to the left on right to left passes. I was using a 500mm lens which in hindsight was the wrong lens. I could only get a top side at the extreme left of the panning angle at the point at which it becomes jerky to use. As a result most of my Spit tail chase shots of this type were blurred. I would have much preferred if the Spits starting their display coming round the corner from the left on a steady trajectory or a bit further away to get the angles I want. Fortunately I do not make these mistakes too much.
I should have moved back further to the Air Space museum to take these shots or used the 100-400 lens instead.
One thing is that an image may be in focus but not useable simply because the sun is shining on the aircraft at an angle which reflects a lot of glare and washes out the detail and only a part of the aircraft will look in focus. Every object to a lesser extent reflects light like a glass building, particularly aircraft with glossy paintwork that also reflects words/details from the fuselage on to the wings. Get it at the right angle and you should have a clear image of most of the aircraft but at air shows you have to take the best you can get at the time. Sometimes, a better image is obtained when the Sun is not out but in reasonably even light.
Of course you should also bear in mind is that as whilst you would may want the props blurred as much as possible , if you use a shutter speed that is too slow there is a risk of the ends of the wings or tail being blurred if the aircraft suddenly turns, roles or pulls up.
Just seen the USAF B1 go overy my house.
Martin
By: RobAnt - 16th July 2008 at 15:09
As regards to being infocus and inshot – about 70%. I take care with each shot, and don’t rely on the camera’s ability to take frame after frame after frame, as most people seem to do these days.
But as to whether or not they are good and useable without much sharpening and positioning more like 2%. But most images need some sharpening as I don’t capture in RAW format.
About 65%, though, I can repair to an acceptable (well – to me) standard.
Those that I might capture in RAW always need some work before it can be determined whether they are useable or not.
I’ve had 4 or 5 published out of the many thousands I must have taken – and I didn’t get paid for those, but I don’t come at it from a professional point of view – they’re mostly for sharing with others on my website and here (for example), or as Windows wallpaper.
(Funny that – why would I want to wallpaper my windows? – Answer: Privacy – they’re a nosey lot round here.:eek:)
By: Mr Angry - 16th July 2008 at 10:26
At the moment, 1%…:o
Still trying to get to grips with the DSLR.
I ment I was happy with 10% not that they were any good:D
By: neil osborne - 16th July 2008 at 10:11
Just curious, how many % wise do you achieve of good printable flying photos at an air show :confused:
Simon:cool:
At the moment, 1%…:o
Still trying to get to grips with the DSLR.
By: Mr Angry - 16th July 2008 at 09:59
I was quite happy with around 10% of mine from Duxford:rolleyes:
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July 16, 2008 at 9:14 am